Meet The Antiguan Lawyer Turned Activist And Creative Who Approaches Life With Gratitude

In the Caribbean, where certain career choices are often held in higher regards than others, Zoe Teague’s journey to self-actualization and a more enriching life saw her walking away from a traditional career path to one that brings her immense joy. As an Attorney-at-law from Antigua and Barbuda who pivoted to a career in human rights advocacy and content creation, Zoe knew very early on that a traditional legal career wouldn’t bring her the fulfillment that she sought for her life. Despite her efforts to make it work, the call to a more meaningful life- for her- was one that she could not ignore. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Zoe to discuss her bold career pivot, the new path she’s forging for herself, and her own personal experience while defying societal expectations. Her popular mantra, “Life Nice. Thank You, More Please,” fully encapsulates her incredibly inspiring journey and the joy she now finds in choosing the path less traveled.

TKK: Can you start by telling us what drew you to the legal profession in the first place? What was your journey like as a lawyer in Antigua and Barbuda? What inspired you to pursue legal studies?

ZT: Growing up, I was always very outspoken, had a deep sense of what I felt was right and wrong and was always one to plead my case – disciplining me almost always included me trying to explain why I shouldn’t be disciplined or why my punishment should be reduced – and everyone always said I should be a lawyer. I loved debating, reading and anything with words, when I saw lawyers around me and on television, it was something I felt drawn to. At my primary school graduation, I even declared I’d be Queens Counsel one day. Law was a very clear and linear path for me that made sense, for most of my academic life, whenever people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say a lawyer and I chose subjects aligned with this goal of being a lawyer.

My time as a practising lawyer in Antigua & Barbuda was quite interesting. I first got a job with an organization that poached me and then turned out to be very chaotic so I had to decide to leave within 2 weeks of working there as a means of protecting my integrity. Following that, I began working at Legal Aid as a Crown Counsel II. That job opened me up to helping people who have been systematically disadvantaged through the legal system.

TKK: At what point did you start to feel a pull towards something different? Was there a specific moment or experience that made you reconsider your legal career?

ZT: The earliest point in which I started to feel a pull towards something different was in 3rd form, where I was focused on a photography career and decided one day I would attend SCAD in Atlanta, Georgia for my degree, however, that dream was short-lived as many people told me I needed to be more practical. However, I’d consistently been drawn to more than the conventional throughout my life. After my first year of undergraduate studies, I came home from Barbados and told my mother I wanted to quit and become a motivational speaker. What she said to me has stuck with me ever since, her words were “You are going to complete this degree and go to law school. After you finish and you decide you don’t want to do it, fine. I don’t care if you want to be a garbage woman, but you are going to be a garbage woman with a law degree.” (No disrespect to sanitation workers). After I completed my undergraduate studies, I did not want to go to Law School, so I took a gap year. Came home, worked and launched my business in that gap year. After I completed Law School and was ready to be called to the Bar, I chose to focus on growing my business instead of working and practising as a lawyer. Throughout all these decisions, twists and turns, I was deeply reluctant to go down the traditional path. It did not appeal to me, and I just knew that I wanted something else.

TKK: Shifting from law to human rights advocacy is a significant move. What motivated you to make this change, and how did your legal background influence your new path?

ZT: I always had a deep conviction about injustice in the world. During my time at UWI Cave Hill, I was actively involved in UWISTAT and also became involved with a local non-profit called I AM A Girl Barbados. While I was involved in these organizations serving the local community and speaking out about issues, I was also in the classroom learning about human rights and gender through some of my courses. When I thought of where I wanted my career to take me, I imagined myself in the halls of the United Nations (primarily because I saw that as the pinnacle of success when championing human rights). As I continued my academic journey, I also continued my activist journey, continuing to speak out about issues, do further research and work towards championing change in my local communities through different volunteerism projects. I also knew that I didn’t want to be a lawyer in the traditional sense. The deeper I got, the more I was averse to it but I didn’t know how exactly I would get to be an advocate for human rights while not practicing in the Courtroom. Most of the human rights advocates I knew were practising law one way or the other. When I decided to go into legal practice, I quickly found that I wasn’t enjoying most of it but one part of it felt most aligned to me and that was working alongside survivors of domestic violence to get their protection orders.

While working, I was still volunteering and pursuing avenues to develop myself as it related to human rights issues surrounding gender and the LGBTQI+ community. I was growing increasingly dissatisfied with traditional practice but knew I wanted to work in a way that I was still impacting change. Truthfully, I didn’t exactly know fully how I was going to do that, but I knew other worlds were possible. I remember telling friends that I wanted to leave law and work in human rights more specifically and people would look at me like I had two heads or something but through my volunteerism, activism and learning I knew that there were other careers out there in the human rights space that were not conventional and I had this unwavering faith that I would be able to occupy the space at one point or another. So, I continued to champion the work I believed in and applied for opportunities that seemed aligned. One day, I found the opportunity that I have now, and the rest is history.

TKK: In the Caribbean, careers like law are often held in high regard, and leaving such a profession can come with significant pressure from family and friends. How did your loved ones react when you decided to step away from the law? Did you face any pushback, and how did you navigate those expectations while pursuing your new path?

I can say I have been very fortunate to have more supportive people in my corner than not. Both my mom and stepdad would’ve told me at the beginning of my undergraduate program that I could use my legal degree as a stepping stone. When I told my mother about my desire to drop out, her response wasn’t based on the fact she wanted me to be a lawyer but rather on the fact, that she wanted me to complete my studies as she thought it important for me to get my degree (based on her own experiences in the workplace as someone without a degree) as well as complete something I started.

My closest friends have been very supportive of me and my decisions – even when unconventional, they’ve had this unwavering belief in my capabilities which has been extremely useful in moments where I’ve doubted myself. I have had many naysayers though, people who do not have a close relationship with me have been the ones who have felt most comfortable passing certain remarks. One of those remarks that stands out to me is when someone told me “You must be so disappointing to your parents.” when I told them I was focusing on my business rather than going to practice law.

This support helped me to know I could step away from law but as you rightfully said, the legal profession commands a certain type of respect in society and just after two years, I was walking away from it. I knew I looked crazy and when I spoke to older lawyers about my next steps, many of them discouraged me from it. I remember distinctly feeling very stressed when I was about to resign and asking for advice from older lawyers who themselves did not enjoy their work or day-to-day and they just kept telling me to stay and make it work. I heard a distinct voice say to me “Why are you seeking advice from people who will never go where you’re going or be willing to do what you are willing to do?” and that helped me to step boldly into the next season of my life.

TKK: Alongside your advocacy work, you’ve also pursued creative endeavours. Can you tell us more about the creative side of Zoe Teague? What forms of art do you engage in, and how do they complement your advocacy?

ZT: I like to refer to myself as a Queeribbean Jane of Many Trades on my social media, I go by Zoë Mercedes which is my middle name online and through my creative endeavours, I pursue several things. I am a writer, audiovisual content creator, and creative entrepreneur. I did not perceive myself as a creative individual for a very long time, a lot of people pigeonholed me into a very rigid idea of self, and I took that on for a while. My business helped me to see that I was a creative individual, although I did not make the jewellery that we sold, being able to use my creative eye to select pieces, to brand my business and so on was one of the avenues in which I expressed myself creatively.

I have the gift of gab and that also is not always something people recognize as a talent or creative skill. I didn’t for a very long time but over time, I began to see that I had a way with words and would share through video and then through writing anecdotes from my life and that has led me to explore content creation as well as my writing through a newsletter. I share about my travels, my wins, my lessons, gratitude and everything in between.

My creativity has also led me to the creation of the mantra “Life Nice. Thank you, more please” which has snowballed and become the mantra of MANY. I am open to all forms of creativity and will invariably try everything at least once. My creativity bleeds perfectly into my advocacy because I use my gift of gab and knack for writing to continue to champion the work I believe in as well as help me to be a better storyteller.

The words “life nice.” are meant to acknowledge a moment, thing or experience that feels good and is pleasing to the soul.
“Thank you” is an expression of gratitude for that same moment, experience or thing and “more please” is a humble request to God, the Universe or whatever you believe in to give you more moments that feel good and fill you with joy.

TKK: Every career pivot comes with its own set of challenges. What were some of the obstacles you faced during your transition, and how did you overcome them? What has been the most rewarding aspect of this new chapter in your life?

ZT: The biggest obstacle I faced in my transition was rejection. During the period when I was applying for jobs outside of the legal field, I faced so much rejection that I began to have rejection burnout. I started to doubt my capabilities and it was hard to deal with.

I knew I was qualified. I knew that I was capable, but it wasn’t translating into the results I wanted. I overcame this by reframing my relationship to rejection. Considering it divine redirection and a sign that there was something greater ahead for me. I even wrote about the topic of receiving no for my newsletter here. The most rewarding aspect of this new chapter in my life is genuinely being able to look at my life and knowing that I have been able to create a life I love and work in a way that feels good to me. Whenever I pause to look at my life, it feels great knowing that I did not know exactly how I would get where I was going but through this sense of belief in what I felt was possible for myself, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot and that feels great.

TKK: For other lawyers or professionals considering a similar pivot, what advice would you offer? How can they navigate the uncertainties and pursue their true passions?

ZT: Wow, there are so many things I’d like to say to people who are considering making a pivot.

I’ll start with this: your journey is unique and to make certain decisions like a career pivot means you will have to listen to your inner knowing more than any external voice. Just before I submitted my resignation from my job as an Attorney, I was seeking advice from people who had been in the service but nothing anyone was telling me made sense for my unique situation. I found myself becoming anxious wondering if I was making the right decision, I decided to do some breathing and I heard a voice clearly say to me, “You can’t ask for advice from people who have never been where you are going. Your path is unique, and you will have to trust yourself as you make your next step.”

I think planning is essential but also knowing when to take a leap of faith is essential. There will always be naysayers, but the most important thing should be how your life looks and feels to you.

TKK: What’s next for you, Zoe? Are there any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about as you continue your journey in human rights advocacy and your creative path?

ZT: I am always balancing looking ahead with being present, the future looks bright. I am working on a few things in both realms as well as being open to new collaborations and opportunities.

As it relates to my human rights advocacy, I can’t publicly disclose any of the projects I’m working on, but I am looking forward to continuing to amplify the causes that I am passionate about and moving the needle forward for a more just world. I am looking forward to continuing my gender justice and LGBTQI+-centred work and am open to opportunities to do more of that.

Creatively, I have begun writing for my newsletter again and that excites me as well. I am working on launching a few things surrounding my mantra “Life nice. Thank you, more please.” so you can look out for that.